Giampiero Ventura’s time in charge of Italy was littered with mistakes, his failure to qualify for this summer’s World Cup unforgivable given the sheer volume of talent at his disposal. Somehow, the veteran Coach never found a tactical solution that worked, didn’t instil a cohesive game plan and even managed to pick teams that omitted many of the players who were shining brightest in Serie A.
Perhaps the most glaring example came when Italy desperately needed a goal during their playoff clash with Sweden. After proving himself capable of delivering in huge domestic games and even in the Champions League, Lorenzo Insigne remained on the bench as Ventura inexplicably instructed Daniele De Rossi to enter the game as Italy’s final substitute. “Why the hell should I go on?” responded the Roma midfielder incredulously. “We don’t need to draw, we need to win!”
His entire homeland sat thinking the exact same thing, the in-form Insigne having registered 33 goals and 17 assists over the last eighteen months while De Rossi remains a good but limited midfielder in the autumn of his own career. Before Sweden’s eventual 1-0 win eliminated Italy, the fact the Giallorossi skipper was even in the squad sparked another debate, one which should finally end later this week.
De Rossi – with his skill, a wealth of experience and the gritty determination he so passionately displays – arguably deserved to be in the squad, but under Ventura he was part of a midfield that became stale and uninspiring. Too often, the 34-year-old was fielded alongside Lazio’s Marco Parolo (33) and Riccardo Montolivo (33) as a crop of more talented and more technically gifted players were overlooked.
As discussed in this previous column, PSG star Marco Verratti remains something of an enigma, while youngsters like Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolò Barella and Roberto Gagliardini will need time to grow accustomed to the demands of international football. Yet only the most stubborn and wilfully ignorant of observers could ignore the form of Napoli midfielder Jorginho, who has so far inexplicably played just 114 minutes in an Azzurri shirt.
The first 24 of those were spread over two friendlies in 2016 before Antonio Conte omitted him from that summer’s European Championships. Even looking with hindsight – and the benefit of knowing Italy would shine as a collective unit under the current Chelsea boss – the decision to opt for Stefano Sturaro, Thiago Motta and Parolo over Jorginho seems erroneous after he finished the 2015/16 season as the most prolific passer in Europe’s top five leagues.
But that was after his first season under Maurizio Sarri, and his progress since highlights how ridiculous it is that Ventura continued to overlook him after replacing Conte. Sarri’s Napoli pass and move in complete harmony, winning over neutral observers with an easy-on-the-eye approach that is becoming increasingly effective. They have played through the current campaign with an incredible style that has cemented their status as both title contenders and the hipster’s choice, stirring echoes of their triumphs with Diego Maradona while remaining simply beautiful to watch.
At the heart of everything they do is the 26-year-old playmaker, Jorginho the physical embodiment of the team’s style as every attacking move flows through him at some point. He is the Xavi of “Sarrismo,” the Neapolitan equivalent of Barcelona’s tiki-taka, yet somehow, the second leg of the playoff with Sweden was his first and only appearance for Italy under Ventura. The ancient Romans would lynch a man for lesser crimes.
“It’s difficult to press him or intercept his play,” Belgian star Radja Nainggolan explained recently as he cited Jorginho as his most difficult opponent. “He wears you out because he distributes the ball very quickly yet he practically stands still!” The statistics back that up as the Napoli man is once again leading all Europe with 106.4 passes per 90 minutes, connecting with 90% of those efforts while also making 1.8 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game. Well-rounded, defensively diligent and able to pick apart even the most resolute opponent, having him in the side benefits every single team-mate, safe in the knowledge that if they are caught in possession, Jorginho will be close at hand and available to receive a pass.
Other managers have certainly taken notice, with Arsenal, Liverpool and Real Madrid all reportedly interested in his services. Pep Guardiola said that “Jorginho is marvellous” ahead of Manchester City’s Champions League encounter with Napoli and now Gigi Di Biagio has given him another opportunity to see him at the Etihad.
Italy take on Argentina there on Friday night then travel to Wembley to face England, two matches that will almost certainly see Jorginho add to his ridiculously low number of minutes played for the Azzurri. It’s about time.
